fa  ns  i. 


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DO  IT  NOW 

NO  TIME  TO  LOSE 


THE  ORGANIZATION 

of  the 

National  Campaign  of 
Northern  Baptist  Laymen 

With  Suggestions  to  State  Officers 
and  Committees  and  to  the  “Five 
Minute  Men” 

PLAN  OF  CAMPAIGN 


National  Committee  of  Northern  Baptist 
Laymen,  Headquarters,  Room  1207,  Fifth 
Avenue  Building,  New  York  City 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE 
NATIONAL  CAMPAIGN  OF 
NORTHERN  BAPTIST  LAYMEN 


Organization  is  Imperative 

Large  results  from  the  work  of  many  people 
cannot  be  secured  without  organization.  Elab- 
orate machinery  or  great  expense  are  not 
necessary,  but  there  must  be  a plan,  a leader- 
ship, a definite  objective.  What  is  everybody’s 
business  is-  nobody’s  business.  Get  busy. 

I.  NATIONAL  ORGANIZATION 

THE  following  sections  from  the  report  of 
the  Committee  on  Organization,  adopted 
at  Chicago,  January  11,.  1918,  give  the  outline 
of  organization  for  the  Campaign: 

1.  That  the  Continuation  Committee  ap- 
pointed at  Cleveland  have  general  direction. 

2.  That  the  Continuation  Com’mittee  ap- 
point a special  National  Campaign  Committee 
some  of  whose  members  should  be  near 
enough  to  New  York  to  meet  frequently. 

3.  That  a state  committee  be  named  in  each 
state. 

4.  That  plans  be  developed  for  sending  out 
hundreds  and  thousands  of  “messengers”  who 
will  make  “five  minute  talks”  and  explain  the 
task  and  the  plans. 

To  this  end  the  National  Committee  should 
furnish  data  and  actual  outlines  for  talks. 

5.  That  a national  campaign  director  be 
appointed  to  head  up  the  campaign  and  that  a 
campaign  publicity  man  be  engaged  to  direct 
the  publicity  end. 

6.  That  as  many  pcperts  in  setting  up  con- 
ferences be  utilized  as,  a/e  available. 

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7.  That  an  appeal  be  issued  for  volunteers 
to  do  all  that  has  been  suggested  in  the  fore- 
going. The  names  of  those  reporting  should 
be  passed  over  to  the  several  state  commit- 
tees. 


II.  STATE  ORGANIZATION 

Each  state  should  be  organized  in  the  main 
as  follows: 

1.  A state  committee  varying  in  number 
according  to  local  state  conditions  should  be 
named.  Its  members  will  be  formally  ap- 
pointed by  the  National  Committee.  It  is  bet- 
ter to  have  too  many  rather  than  too  few 
members.  There  is  no  objection  to  using  min- 
isters, but  the  bulk  of  the  committee  should 
be  laymen. 

2.  The  state  committee  should  select  a 
chairman,  a campaign  director  and  a treasurer. 

3.  It  may  be  well  to  name  a few  persons 
to  act  with  these  officers  as  a state  executive 
committee. 

4.  The  state  chairman  shall  perform  the 
usual  duties  of  such  an  officer  and  keep  always 
in  fullest  contact  with  the  national  and  state 
directors. 

5.  A state  headquarters  should  be  secured 
and  established  immediately,  in  charge  of  the 
state  campaign  director. 

6.  The  state  director  should,  in  consulta- 
tion, direct  all  the  work  in  the  state  and 
aggressively  promote  the  entire  state  cam- 
paign. He  may  employ  such  agencies  as  may 
be  necessary  for  the  proper  prosecution  of 
the  work. 

7.  A close  relationship  should  be  main- 
tained between  the  state  committees  and  the 
state  and  district  secretaries  (men  and 
women). 

8.  The  state  committees  should  organize 
committees  in  each  association  so  far  as  prac- 
ticable and  through  them  plan  to  reach  every 
community  and  church. 


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III.  ASSOCIATION  OR  DISTRICT 
ORGANIZATION 

The  association  is  our  natural  Baptist  unit 
already  organized.  This  campaign  should  pro- 
mote associational  unity  and  co-operation.  In 
some  instances  associations  may  have  to  be 
divided,  or  combined;  certain  metropolitan 
centers  also  may  be  subdivided.  Local  condi- 
tions must  determine  exact  limits  of  the  unit 
employed. 

1.  The  state  director  or  committee  should 
select  a chairman  for  each  association  or  dis- 
trict, who  shall  select  his  association  or  dis- 
trict committee. 

2.  The  association  or  district  director 
should  be  a member  of  the  state  committee 
and  keep  in  constant  and  close  contact  with 
the  state  director. 

3.  Association  or  district  headquarters 
should  be  in  the  most  accessible  city  or  town 
for  the  prompt  handling  of  all  work. 

4.  The  association  or  district  director  should 
as  speedily  as  possible  prepare  a complete  list 
of  men  available  for  five  minute  speakers. 
These  should  so  far  as  possible  be  laymen  of 
known  ability.  The  list  can  be  enlarged  from 
time  to  time. 

5.  A conference  of  all  the  association  or 
district  speakers  should  be  held  very  soon,  that 
they  may  be  fully  informed  as  to  facts,  out- 
lines of  talks;  and  also  talk  and  pray  over  the 
whole  plan.  Be  sure  all  understand  instruc- 
tions; it  would  be  well  to  have  them  fully 
written  out.  Each  speaker  must  be  furnished 
printed  outlines  of  talks.  These  can  be  se- 
cured from  the  National  Committee. 

6.  The  association  or  district  director 
should  be  responsible  for  the  work  in  his  sec- 
tion, (a)  making  all  engagements  for  talks; 
(b)  sending  out  speakers,  securing  needed  sub- 
stitutes; (c)  getting  in  touch  with  churches  so 
as  to  arrange  dates;  giving  full  publicity  to  all 
plans  and  meetings. 


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7.  The  association  or  district  director 

should  be  certain  that  all  five  minute  speakers 
are  kept  busy.  One  meeting  in  every  church, 
and  in  the  larger  churches  a meeting  with  each 
group,  as  Sunday  school,  young  people’s  soci- 
ety, men’s  organizations  and  women’s  soci- 
eties. 

8.  The  association  or  district  directors 

should  see  that  there  is  sufficient  literature  cir- 
culated at  each  meeting.  This  should  be  care- 
fully distributed.  Do  not  leave  a pile  of  leaf- 
lets somewhere  to  be  taken;  give  them  to  indi- 
viduals' 

9.  The  association  or  district  director 

should  hold  a second  meeting  for  all  speakers 
about  March  1,  to  talk  over  the  campaign. 
Talk  encouragingly,  enthusiastically. 

IV.  THE  LOCAL  CHURCH 

Each  church  will  select  a representative  lay- 
men’s committee  which  will  direct  the  local 
work.  This  committee  should  keep  in  close 
touch  with  State  headquarters. 


V.  THE  PLAN  OF  CAMPAIGN 

A.  PERSONNEL 

1.  Being  a laymen’s  movement  the  laymen 
will  lead.  All  committees  are  almost  wholly 
made  up  of  laymen.  Since  it  is  a laymen’s 
campaign,  use  all  available  men.  New  voices 
and  new  personalities  are  very  effective.  Dis- 
cover new  men  and  use  them. 

2.  Every  agency  of  the  denomination  will 
place  its  facilities  at  the  disposal  of  the  several 
committees. 

3.  Pastors  should  not  permit  the  laymen 
to  put  the  leadership  in  this  Campaign  over  on 
them.  This  is  a “laymen’s  job,”  although  the 
pastor  in  every  instance  will  assist.  Better 
still,  let’s  all  pull  together — men,  women  and 
children. 


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B.  OBJECTIVES 

1.  Bear  in  mind  that  the  purpose  of  the 
Campaign  is  to  raise  “An  Extra  Million  Dol- 
lars Before  March  Thirty-first.” 

2.  A larger  objective  is  the  enlistment  of 
laymen  in  Kingdom  service.  The  greater  value 
of  the  Campaign  should  appear  after  it  is  all 
over.  A working  body  is  being  organized 
which  should  be  able  to  accomplish  “things 
wonderful”  in  future  days. 

C.  METHODS 

Each  committee — state,  associational  and 
church — will  lay  out  its  own  plan  of  operation. 
The  following  suggestions  are  offered  as  to 
methods: 

1.  The  Five  Minute  Men.  These  have  a 
great  work  to  do.  Much  is  being  expected 
from  them  by  the  national  committee.  Hun- 
dreds of  them  should  be  employed  in  every 
state.  Such  volunteers  appoint  others. 

Each  state  committee  should  keep  a register 
of  the  Five  Minute  Men.  It  would  be  well  to 
send  all  names  to  National  Headquarters  so 
that  literature  may  be  sent  direct.  Give  exact 
local  addresses. 

Material  for  the  use  of  five  minute  men  is 
furnished  by  the  National  Committee  in  the 
several  leaflets  issued,  particularly  the  “Hand- 
Book”  and  “Big  Thoughts  for  Little  Speeches,” 
or  suggestions  for  Five  Minute  Men. 

Talks  should  be  direct,  pointed  and  brief. 
“Brevity  is  the  soul  of  wit.”  Wake  the  people 
up.  Do  not  try  to  make  a thirty  minute  talk  in 
five  minutes,  nor  vice  versa! 

Wherever  a Baptist  meeting,  rally  or  con- 
ference is  held  prior  to  March  31,  get  a Five 
Minute  Man  on  as  “extra.” 

When  facts  are  clearly  in  mind,  it  is  desir- 
able Five  Minute  Men  should  prepare  their 
own  talks. 

Remember  that  the  Five  Minute  Men  are  dis- 
tinct from  the  general  helpers,  such  as  general, 
district  or  state  secretaries. 


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Send  men  to  new  audiences  where  possible, 
so  they  may  speak  to  churches  of  which  they 

are  not  members. 

2 Conserve  your  resources  in  men,  money 
and  time.  Do  not  be  afraid  to  use  telegraph  or 
telep'  one.  Avoid  long  trips.  Have  many  men 
for  short  trips  so  far  as  possible.  Keep  ac- 
count of  all  expenses  for  travel,  for  office,  for 
expenses  of  Five  Minute  Men  and  send  state- 
ment to  National  office,  1207  Fifth  Avenue 
Building,  New  York  City,  each  Saturday. 

3.  The  literature  of  the  movement  is  being 
prepared  by  the  national  committee  as  rapidly 
as  possible.  It  will  not  be  extensive,  but  is 
appropriate  and  suggestive.  Send  for  list. 

The  whole  story  of  the  campaign  is  told  in 
the  attractive  four-page  folder,  six  by  nine 
inches,  printed  in  three  colors,  entitled  “The 
New  Day  for  World  Service.”  It  may  also  be 
used  as  a poster. 

4.  Keep  in  close  contact  with  the  national 
office.  Advise  fully.  Ask  questions.  Replies 
will  be  sent  promptly. 

Literature  should  be  distributed  carefully  at 
every  meeting  that  is  held. 

5.  Ask  each  pastor  to  speak  on  the  cam- 
paign issue,  devoting  if  possible  an  entire  ser- 
mon to  it,  discussing  (a)  laymen’s  work,  (b) 
this  special  Campaign,  (c)  the  Baptist  war  fund 
which  is  included  in  this  special  drive,  (d)  the 
five  year  program.  Understand  the  relation  of 
these  various  phases  of  the  work. 

6.  The  Campaign  should  be  considered  by 
every  ministers’  conference.  Local  and  state 
conferences  should  be  held. 

7.  State  and  association  committees  should 
plan  for  supper  conferences  in  as  many 
churches  and  communities  as  possible.  Good 
programs  should  be  arranged  and  opportunity 
given  for  question  and  answer.  Get  the  facts 
before  the  people. 


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8.  Use  local  newspapers  for  publicity.  Pub- 
lish names  of  speakers  throughout  the  associa- 
tion or  district.  Send  list  to  Baptist  paper 
and  to  state  and  national  officers  promptly. 
Secure  some  experienced  publicity  man  as  a 
member  of  the  committee.  Special  publicity 
just  prior  to  the  main  drive  of  the  last  week 
is  very  important. 

9.  Sermons,  five  minute  talks,  letters,  per- 
sonal interviews,  conferences  and  other  meth- 
ods should  be  utilized  to  prepare  the  way  for 
the  final  week. 

10.  The  Baptist  papers  will  be  fully  utilized 
every  week,  and  all  are  cooperating  splendidly. 

Call  attention  to  the  publicity  work.  Each 
state  and  association  committee  should  have 
one  member  familiar  with  this  sort  of  work. 

Local  newspapers  everywhere  will  print  ma- 
terial, if  it  is  properly  presented  by  some  local 
man. 


D THE  MAIN  DRIVE 

The  Campaign  covers  a period  of  only  eight 
weeks,  beginning  February  1. 

Seven  weeks  of  this  time  will  be  utilized  to 
inform  the  people  everywhere  regarding  the 
Campaign. 

The  motto  in  the  first  weeks  of  the  Cam- 
paign should  be  “To  the  Last  Church.” 

The  motto  for  the  closing  week  may  well  be 
"To  the  Last  Man,”  “No  State  Failure.” 

If  a militant  slogan  is  desired  let  it  be  “Bap- 
tist Laymen  Over  the  Top,”  as  suggested  by 
Kansas. 

While  gifts  and  pledges  will  not  be  declined 
at  any  time,  the  MAIN  DRIVE  will  occur  in 
the  last  week  culminating  Easter  Sunday, 
March  31. 

The  organization  should  be  so  perfected 
everywhere  by  March  23  that  there  will  be  no 
difficulty  in  rounding  things  up  in  the  eight 
days  remaining. 


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E.  GENERAL  SUGGESTIONS 

Do  not  neglect  anything  that  will  contribute 
to  the  success  of  the  Campaign.  Get  the  habit 
and  talk  in  millions  for  the  next  two  months. 
“Say  it  over.” 

Many  small  gifts  will  help  swell  the  total. 
But  it  is  imperative  that  many  pledges  for 
large  amounts  be  received.  Plans  to  secure 
these  should  be  perfected  early. 

If  a few  large  promises  can  be  secured  and 
the  announcements  made  at  the  opening  of  the 
last  week  it  would  be  well. 

Teams  to  call  upon  special  contributors 
should  be  organized  and  coached  before  the 
final  week  of  drive. 

The  importance  of  prayer  cannot  be  over- 
estimated. Without  special  help  from  above 
we  cannot  accomplish  this  great  task.  The 
spiritual  side  of  the  Campaign  should  be  kept 
to  the  front  constantly. 

“Do  it  now.”  Do  not  wait  for  further  ad- 
vice. Go  ahead.  Begin.  To  get  results  is 
what  we  all  want.  Take  the  initiative. 


No.  8,  Ed.  3,  zoM,  2-18 


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